N.C. State's Brown: Ready for next step into NBA

Friday

Mar 29, 2013 at 12:01 AMMar 29, 2013 at 12:58 AM

Bob Sutton / Times-News

RALEIGH — North Carolina State guard Lorenzo Brown said despite some unfinished business he’s ready for the next level.

“I kind of knew it was time. If I would have stayed I’d have had guys like T.J. (Warren) and Rodney (Purvis) and those guys to help me out, but I figured it was my time to leave and step up to something new,” Brown said Thursday.

No mention of the next move for classmate C.J. Leslie, who also might be in line to leave before his senior season. Coach Mark Gottfried said that decision has yet to be made.

But Brown is ready to enter his name into NBA Draft.

“My freshman year was tough for me... the team struggled, but when Coach Gottfried got here he put the ball in my hands and gave me the opportunity to lead this team,” Brown said. “I feel like I did a pretty good job of that over the last two years. Hopefully, I can do that on the next level.”

“I personally believe he’s got a great future in the NBA and I support him 100 percent,” Gottfried said. “I’ve enjoyed coaching him. When I took the job there was uncertainty here, he stepped into the role to be our point guard and he's learned, he's grown, and he's got better.”

“I am looking forward to watching him play basketball for many years to come.”

For the Wolfpack, it will mean another transition at point guard. Tyler Lewis showed flashes of being a suitable player at that position as a freshman during the past season, while recruit Cat Barber will arrive with considerable expectations.

“Anytime you lose a player of his caliber it hurts your program, especially if they leave early, but at the same time we’ve planned for it,” Gottfried said. “I have a tremendous amount of confidence in Tyler Lewis and Cat Barber is coming in as a true point guard. We have some other returning players, I think as far as guards go, that can be very good. We’ve planned, but at the same time we will miss a player of his magnitude.”

Brown, an All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team selection by the media and coaches in 2012-13, averaged 12.4 points, led the league in assists (7.2 per game) and ranked second in the conference in steals (2.0 per game).

“I feel that it is in my best interest and the best interest of my family to make this move now,” Brown said. “I have enjoyed my N.C. State career and it has been a privilege to be a part of rebuilding this program.”

Brown started 95 of the 101 games he played during his collegiate career. He averaged 11.6 points during three seasons and is one of only three players in school history to record more than 500 career assists (589).